Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for peripheral device discovery, the detection of orientation of a connector having multiple degrees of rotational symmetry, and the provision of appropriate signal paths between a host device and a peripheral device. Some embodiments provide a characteristic impedance within the peripheral device that is coupled between rotationally symmetric contacts of the connector and thus enables detection of the connector orientation. The value of the characteristic impedance may be used in some embodiments to determine the type or model of peripheral device. Some embodiments are concerned with the enablement of appropriate signal paths to a peripheral device having a transducer (e.g. a loudspeaker) coupled only to rotationally symmetric contacts of the connector, such as headphones implemented in a “balanced” configuration.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A data controller for controlling transfer of data between a host device and a peripheral device via a connector of the host device, the connector comprising a plurality of contacts having n-fold rotational symmetry, wherein n is an integer greater than one, the data controller comprising: a discovery module operable to detect the presence of one or more characteristic impedances of the peripheral device via contacts of said connector; and a path controller for enabling signal paths between circuitry of the host device and contacts of said connector, the path controller being operable in at least a first mode and a plurality of second modes to enable signal paths between the circuitry of the host device and the contacts of said connector, wherein the discovery module is operable to detect the presence of a first characteristic impedance on either one of first and second contacts of said connector, and a second characteristic impedance on either one of third and fourth contacts of said connector, wherein the first, second, third and fourth contacts are different from each other, wherein the path controller is configured to select either said first mode or said plurality of second modes in dependence on the detection of said first characteristic impedance, and wherein the path controller is configured to select, further to the selection of said plurality of second modes, one of said plurality of second modes in dependence on the value of said second characteristic impedance.
2. The data controller according to claim 1 , wherein the first mode is for the transfer of digital data, and wherein the plurality of second modes comprise modes for the transfer of analogue data.
3. The data controller according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second contacts are located at rotationally symmetric positions of said connector.
4. The data controller according to claim 1 , wherein the discovery module is operable to detect a first characteristic impedance via each of said first and second contacts, and wherein the path controller is configured to select either said first mode or said plurality of second modes in dependence on the detection of said first characteristic impedance on both of said first and second contacts.
5. The data controller according to claim 1 , wherein the path controller is operable to access a look-up table storing a plurality of impedance values for each of the plurality of second modes, and wherein the path controller is configured to select one of said second modes in dependence on the value of said second characteristic impedance.
6. The data controller according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of second modes corresponds to a different configuration of signal paths between circuitry of the host device and the contacts of said connector.
7. The data controller according to claim 6 , wherein each of the configurations of signal paths is suitable for a different type of peripheral device.
8. The data controller according to claim 7 , wherein each of the configurations of signal paths is suitable for a different type of peripheral device in at least one of the rotational orientations of the connector with respect to a connector of the peripheral device.
9. The data controller according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of the configurations comprises respective enabled signal paths between first and second output amplifiers of the host device, and fifth and sixth contacts of said connector, the first and second output amplifiers generating audio output signals of equal and opposite magnitude.
10. The data controller according to claim 1 , wherein the discovery module is configured to determine which of at least two predetermined additional contacts of the connector is a ground contact connected to a ground return for the peripheral device, and wherein the path controller is further configured to select one of said second modes in dependence on which of the at least two predetermined additional contacts of the connector is a ground contact connected to a ground return for the peripheral device.
11. An electronic device comprising: a connector comprising a plurality of contacts having n-fold rotational symmetry, wherein n is an integer greater than one; and a data controller as claimed in claim 1 .
12. A peripheral electronic device for connection to a host electronic device via a connector of the peripheral electronic device, the connector having a plurality of contacts arranged in a pattern having n-fold rotational symmetry, wherein n is an integer greater than one, the peripheral electronic device comprising: a pair of first characteristic impedances coupled to first and second contacts of said connector, the detection of which causing the host device to be placed into a first mode; one or more operative components coupled to at least a third contact of said connector, configured for at least one of transferring data to the host device and receiving data from the host device; and a second characteristic impedance, separate from said one or more operative components, coupled directly to one of a pair of rotationally symmetric contacts of said connector, enabling the host device to determine an orientation of the connector.
13. The peripheral electronic device according to claim 12 , wherein the second characteristic impedance has an impedance value that is indicative of a device type of the peripheral electronic device.
14. The peripheral electronic device according to claim 12 , wherein the pair of rotationally symmetric contacts comprises the third contact and a fourth contact, wherein the second characteristic impedance is coupled directly to the fourth contact, and wherein the second characteristic impedance is coupled to the third contact via an operative component of the one or more operative components.
15. The peripheral electronic device according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more operative components comprise one of more of: a speaker; a microphone; and processing circuitry.
16. An apparatus, comprising: an audio codec for providing audio signals to a peripheral device; a path controller for enabling signal paths between the audio codec and contacts of a connector of a host device, the connector comprising a plurality of contacts having n-fold rotational symmetry, wherein n is an integer greater than one, the path controller being operable to enable separate signal paths between a first amplifier of said audio codec and at least one first contact of said connector, and between a second amplifier of said audio codec and at least one second contact of said connector, the at least one first contact and the at least one second contact being located at rotationally symmetric positions on said connector; and a discovery module operable to detect the presence of a characteristic impedance on at least one contact of said connector, and so determine an orientation of a connector of the peripheral device with respect to the connector of the host device, wherein the audio codec is operable in a first mode of operation to provide audio signals via the first amplifier, and a second mode of operation to provide audio signals via the second amplifier, and wherein the path controller is operable to select between the first and second modes of operation in dependence on the orientation of the connector.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein in the first mode of operation the second amplifier is deactivated, and wherein in the second mode of operation the first amplifier is deactivated.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the first amplifier is permanently coupled to the first contact, and wherein the second amplifier is permanently coupled to the second contact.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the audio codec comprises one or more first further electrical components permanently coupled to the first contact, and one or more second further electrical components permanently coupled to the second contact, and wherein in the first mode of operation the one or more first further electrical components are deactivated, and wherein in the second mode of operation the one or more second further electrical components are deactivated.
20. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the discovery module is configured to determine which of at least two predetermined additional contacts of the connector is a ground contact connected to a ground return for the peripheral device, and wherein the path controller is further configured to select between said first and second modes in dependence on which of the at least two predetermined additional contacts of the connector is a ground contact connected to a ground return for the peripheral device.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 7, 2020
November 17, 2020
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.